Eurosport Launches High Definition

Eurosport has launched a high definition channel in the UK and Ireland on Sky.

The channel will show the last ten days of the Tour de France and the Beijing Olympic Games in high definition in the first month alone and will be available to the half a million Sky homes that subscribe to Sky’s HD service, Sky+ HD.

Eurosport HD, the simulcast service of Eurosport International, adds to Eurosport’s existing offer on Sky in the UK & Ireland, currently British Eurosport and Eurosport 2.

The HD service has already begun broadcasting in selected European countries during May to coincide with the French Open at Roland Garros, with a further 30 major carriage deals lined up across 17 countries in Europe.

Commenting on the UK launch, Jean-Thierry Augustin, general manager of distribution and development at Eurosport Group, said: “Sport is spectacular in high definition – it transforms the viewing experience for sports fans and, as the leading sports TV channel in Europe, it was a natural move for Eurosport to enrich its TV offer with HD.”

Nicola Bamford, director of channels and operations at BSkyB, UK & Ireland, added: “We’re delighted to welcome yet another high quality channel brand to our leading HD service. The success of Sky+ HD is testament to the quality, depth and range of the HD content available to our customers. Eurosport will only further enhance the choice and experience available to Sky+ HD homes.”

Sky’s HD service was launched in April 2006 (see Sky Launches HD Service Next Week)and is now Sky’s fastest growing product, now in more than 465,000 homes across the UK and Ireland.

Eurosport uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/